Primary and college students are heading back to class on May 25
Primary and college-aged students have been marked a priority by the State Government, with students to return to the classroom sooner than expected.
Education
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PRIMARY and college-aged students have been prioritised in the State Government’s pathway back into the classroom.
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff announced on Friday a staged approach for the return of the state’s schools, with kindergarten to year six and year 11 and 12 students returning to school-based learning on Monday, May 25.
High school students will return to the classroom a little later on Tuesday, June 9.
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“This plan reflects that learning at home has presented a number of challenges for some younger students, and that of the year 11 and 12 students,” Mr Rockliff said.
“They’re critical areas of learning, and aligning with a measured approach across the easing of restrictions it was felt appropriate that the early years and years 11 and 12 commence their normal schooling first.
In recognition of the importance of the early years in education, Mr Rockliff also announced a kindergarten catch-up program was under consideration for term three.
He said more details would be announced in coming weeks.
West Hobart mum Katherine Webster said her five-year-old son Owen was elated at the news he would soon be returning to kindergarten.
“He’s excited because he’s really missed his friends,” she said.
“The circumstances haven’t been great, but it’s been really nice to have this extra time with him.”
She said Owen had coped well with learning from home for the past few weeks.
“Because kinder is very play-based he’s been fine at home, and we haven’t been pushing it too hard,” she said.
Ms Webster said with a three-year-old and nine-month-old also at home, it was great to know that things would be slowly returning to normality over the coming months.
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Mr Rockliff thanked students, teachers, and families for their support and understanding during this uncertain time, and for their continued commitment to ongoing learning.
“It’s been really challenging, I know, for parents and carers at home, particularly with young children,” he said.
“Learning at home has enabled us to restrict people movements at such a critical time.”
He said students and staff at high risk of the virus would be supported to continue working from home until the end of term two, and parents were urged to keep their children home until the set dates for their return to school.
“As always we will continue to be guided by public health advice, which could be subject to change,” he said.
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